Texas Boys Distance Project

Welcome to the first installment of the Texas Distance Project where we take a deeper dive into the how some of the best runners in the state performed in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m over the past week.

To get a mention in the TDP, you need to put up a time that catches our eye and beats a standard. This week those standards on the boys' side were: 2:00 (800), 4:27 (1600) and 9:40 (3200). These standards will fluctuate throughout the season, but will always be at least this fast.

This week was a quiet one as several meets were cancelled or athletes were help out due to the colder conditions. As we know, fast early season times are great, but this is all about building to perform your best at District, Area, Regionals and State, if you are fortunate enough to advance.

800M

This week we start with the 800m, which is near and dear to my heart. Nineteen runners achieved the sub-2 standard this week, led by Heath Grant of Willis. Grant cranked out his second blistering 800 in two weeks, coming in with a 1:52.00, which is right up there with his 1:50.99 the week before. This gives the Kansas State commit the two fastest OUTDOOR times in Texas so far this season. Obviously, Cooper Lutkenhaus has run 1:46.86 and 1:50.15 indoor this season, but Grant appears to be laying the groundwork for a fantastic spring.

The second best 800m performance comes from Mathias Pitzel of Katy Tompkins whose 1:54.98 was just off his PR of 1:54.45 last season. The senior second behind Grant at the Katy ISD Bubba Fife Invitational.

A couple of runners from distance powerhouse Austin Vandegrift were next. Senior Jackson Stafford (1:55.74) and junior Miles Nutt (1:55.83) both secured PRs at the Dripping Springs Tiger Relays. Stafford is a versatile runner who has also excelled at steeplechase the past few years.

A couple of sophomore brothers from Summer Creek, Ja'Juan Allison (1:56.79) and Da'Juan Allison (1:57.01) also dropped personal bests in their 800m openers.

Here's a complete list of those who went sub-2 this past weekend.

1600M

A total of 18 runners met this week's standard of sub-4:27 led by freshman sensation Ruel Newberry of Denton Guyer with a 4:21.07 at the Byron Nelson Invitational. There are so many superlatives that have been thrown around this year at young Mr. Newberry, but I am truly excited to see where he ends up this season and I suspect we will see him in more 3200's as the season progresses.

Sophomore Elton Martin, (The Woodlands) continued the underclassman theme with an impressive 4:21.16 in winning the Kingwood Zoe Simpson Invitational. It was a huge PR for Martin, who started the season with a 3200 the week prior.

Senior Alex Hahn Vadstein of Katy Cinco Ranch won the Katy ISD Bubba Fife Invitational in a very solid 4:21.17 opener.

The Edinburg CISD Cats Relays was a bit under the radar but produced four runners under 4:25. Armando Morales of La Feria, the Class 4A Cross Country runner-up, led the way with a 4:21.21.

Austin Vandegrift's Kai McCullough, a podium finisher for the Vipers in XC this season, won the Dripping Springs Tiger Relays in 4:22.83. McCullough has been a constant part of the Vandergrift success over the two years, but has not really extended that success to the track. I expect this year to be different.

Complete list of those who are under this week's standard.

3200M

Matthias Peterson of Northwest Nelson won his home meet, the Bryson Nelson Invitational in an impressive 9:23.90. That's a solid early run and certainly something to build on for someone who got as low as 8:55.56 last year at district.

At the Katy ISD Bubba Fife Invitational junior Ryder Darcey (Katy) literally ran away from the field with a 9:24.07. Darcy also ran a 4:23.64 1600m last weekend. Darcey is hoping to get over the hump after finishing third in both the 1600 and 3200 last year at the Region 3 meet.

Mansfield Lake Ridge's Logan Clark won the 3200m at the Mansfield Maberry Invitational in 9:33.84, but also won the 1600 in 4:28.57. He's done nothing but win so far this winter, having also won the 1600 at the Cedar Hill Opener a week ago.

As I stated at the top, a lot of guys still have not run their first event and weather looks like it may affect this week's meets as well, but so far we have some tremendous running going on across the state. Hopefully you will tune into more from the Texas Distance Project as we try to focus the spotlight on those athletes who put it on the line week after week for more than a lap.